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Research Ethics

The College ensures that all research projects and clinical trials involving human volunteers obtain ethics committee approval before being funded.

Research projects and clinical trials involving human volunteers must obtain ethics committee approval before receiving financial support from the College. In the case of projects carried out at universities, this will normally be obtained through the relevant university ethics committee.

For other research locations, information about ethical approval can be found at the National Research Ethics Service. Their website includes extensive guidance on associated matters, including the Human Tissue Act, Data Protection and the Mental Capacity Act. Applications for ethical approval should then be made through the Integrated Research Application System.

If approval has not been awarded at the time of submission, Award Holders should indicate when the decision is expected and details of the approval should be forwarded to the Research Committee immediately on receipt. Successful applications will not be allowed to commence if Ethics Committee approval is outstanding.

Individual practitioners engaging in research projects must ensure that their personal indemnity insurance is appropriate to cover practice-based research.

Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986

Where the work is subject to regulation by the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986, the provisions of that Act must be observed and project and personal licences quoted. The College’s support for a particular training proposal does not absolve the Award Holder from personal responsibility in this regard; applications for all licences and certificates required under the Act must be made to the Home Office direct, through the host centre’s normal channels. The College does not insist that Home Office approval of any particular project be sought in advance of the application for an Award, but any Award made in the response to such an application will be on the absolute condition that no work which is controlled by the Act will begin until the necessary licences and certificates have been obtained. Any fees levied under the Act are the responsibility of the Award Holder and cannot be provided under the Award.